But while the Cherries ran riot early on when relegation-doomed Boro headed for the south coast last season, the hosts were made to wait this time around, with all the goals coming in the second half.

Howe said Boro were "difficult to break down" but felt his second half substitutes helped make a difference with Callum Wilson and Benik Afobe striking for the hosts after Marcus Tavernier had cancelled out Jack Simpson's opener.

"I was really pleased with the players today, I thought it was a tough game," said the Bournemouth boss.

" Middlesbrough have a team full of experienced players that did well for them in the Premier League last season.

"Even though they’d made changes, they’re always a tough nut to crack. We found them difficult to break down, but in the end we scored some deserved goals and overall were worthy winners."

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Howe added: "We’re really pleased. There are eight teams left and we have a chance to progress. I think we’ve only been in this situation twice as a football club before so we want to go to fresh ground.

"Who knows, when you get to the latter stages of a competition anything can happen and that’s very much our mentality."

The defeat at Bournemouth stretched Boro's winless run to six games, with away games to come at Reading and Hull in the next week.

The Cherries had been on a difficult run themselves before beating Stoke at the weekend, with Howe stressing the importance of getting that win on the board.

He said: "I think mentally we're in a better place now. We showed that against Stoke after playing the game out in a good manner. That’s boosted confidence levels.

"Tonight, yes we were pegged back but we were able to go again and the substitutes made a difference.

"I think winning is the best thing for any football team to rediscover its full potential and I think we’re in that place now. We built momentum slowly as we had a disappointing start to the season, but the team is in a better place now."

Ahead of vital trips to Reading and Hull, Monk will be hoping a much-needed victory has the same impact on his team.